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From the moment babies are born, what they eat becomes the most immediate concern for new parents. The first few months will be all about breastfeeding and formula, which is more or less manageable. However, it is only when you start your little angle on solid foods that you’ll fall short of ideas. With no teeth and lack of variety in food, babies can quickly become fussy. Therefore, we bring you here certain foods that your babies can enjoy until they get their pearly whites:
FRUITS
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A lot of fruits are generally soft and easy to digest too. These can be given directly. But some might require a little bit of steaming to soften a bit. Also, make sure you taste the fruits first for sourness and de-seed them before you feed. Here’s a list of foods you can try:
1. Mangoes
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Pick the ripe mangoes, peel and slice them so it’s easy for your baby to hold.
2. Bananas
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Make sure they are neither too ripe nor raw. Babies might squish the ripe ones and will reject the taste of raw bananas.
3. Avocado
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Pick the ripe, purple ones as it’ll be easy for your baby to bite onto.
4. Apple
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Check for the softness of the fruit, de-seed, and remove the skin before feeding the slices to your baby.
5. Muskmelon
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The ripe ones are perfectly sweet and soft in texture for your baby. So, these are an ideal option too.
VEGETABLES:
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Vegetables are nutritious. However, unlike fruits, most of them cannot be eaten raw since they are too hard for your baby. Ideally, a little amount of steaming – just enough to not make it squishy – is required. Certain vegetables can also be slightly roasted to soften them. Here are a few worthy options to consider:
1. Carrots
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Carrots are a favorite with babies due to their sweet taste and attractive color. Just make long slices out of them and steam them lightly. For instance, one whistle in a pressure cooker should be sufficient enough.
2. Beetroot
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Similar to carrot, this one too needs a bit of slight steaming. You can also try beetroots in the diced form or grate them into thick strands so your baby will be able to chew on them with his/her gums easily.
3. Potato
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Cut them into fries style or into wedges. You can lightly roast the long slices or steam them, but babies will love them either way.
4. Cauliflower
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To start with, make sure the cauliflower is fresh. Check in between the florets for creepies and blanch them in cold water with salt. Once the cauliflower is clean, you can either roast it lightly or steam it for a bit. But ensure it retains its crunchiness as cauliflower tends to become too soft too quickly.
5. Pumpkin
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Another favorite with kids, you can cut this vegetable into small dices. Cook it for a short time and check if it is soft inside by poking a toothpick. Once it is cooked inside, you can serve it to your baby.
COOKED BREAKFAST IDEAS
Some breakfasts are also soft and can be easily consumed by babies. You can give your usual dishes a twist by adding exciting flavors and experimenting with the textures. Here are some which you can give a shot to:
1. Rava Idli
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The good thing about this staple breakfast item is that you can add mashed or grated vegetables to it as well. You can add mashed peas, grated carrots, beetroot or some cilantro (coriander).
2. Oats Porridge
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You can either cook rolled oats or its powder directly in milk. Drizzle some honey and add pureed fruits like apple or peaches to flavor it.
3. Rava Kheer
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Another common dish, it is simple yet easy to make. Just lightly roast the Rava in clarified butter (ghee), add mashed dry fruits, milk, and honey (if you wish to avoid sugar). Your baby will happily slurp it.
We hope your baby loves these delicious and healthy food ideas. However, make sure you check with your pediatrician for anything your baby might be allergic to before adding any new stuff to your baby’s food. Do you have your own set of such recipes or ideas too? Then please share in the comments section below.
